'Tiff' leaves $85million Surfair project in limbo

REDEVELOPMENT of the Surfair Resort at Marcoola is in limbo after a dispute between the developer and a construction company which has brought work to a standstill.

But while some in the industry believe the impasse will end up in the courts, development company Discovery Beach Project Pty Ltd is confident work will resume on the $85million project next Monday.

The Northbuild Construction team building two new towers on the site walked off the job after what Discovery Beach Project director Lawrie Robson described as a "territorial dispute".

Both the developer and the builder brought security teams onto the site to protect their assets, with Northbuild believed to have removed six shipping containers full of fittings and appliances.

Northbuild Construction manager Paul Boddington refused to talk to the Daily yesterday but Mr Robson described the dispute as a "tiff".

"It was basically a territorial issue nothing to do with contractual issues," he said.

"Northbuild is building the north tower and the south tower but another builder was coming in to refurbish the centre tower.

"We took it on ourselves to allow them access and Northbuild didnt like the idea.

"Basically it was a territorial dispute but weve got a meeting with them tomorrow in Brisbane and Im confident it will all be worked out."

Regional manager of the Queensland Master Builders Association, Robert Dunbar, said his organisation was not officially involved in the dispute but he could not see it being resolved quickly.

"I believe it will probably end up in court," he said.

"My information, which is from the builders side of the fence, is that there is dispute between the builder and the developer over contractual issues and because of the nature of the issue work has been suspended on the job by the builder until such time as his concerns are alleviated."

Mr Robson said the north and south towers of the complex were due for completion by the middle of next month, with the entire complex to be opened by the end of the year.